I’m pretty sure I’m gonnna keep identifying potential markets and then begin reaching out to real estate agents in those markets to learn more about potential opportunities.

If you intend to occupy the larger unit and make that the reason for eviction, you may mitigate some of those issues. 

Number one, as a newbie, should I call it a day and move on to other opportunities?  

As such it saddens me a bit but I need to start over from scratch with making new connections if I hope to start investing within the year, but I am excited for the opportunity it may bring.As such I was wondering if anyone in the OKC area wanted to connect.

That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alertsYou can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/usersAlso, be sure to get plugged into the podcast - it's been a wealth of education and a huge confidence builder as me and my husband have pursued REI and built our portfolio.

., so they moved out, or did you use the dog as an opportunity to inspect the place?

I'm in Chattanooga and agree with you that it's still a great market for investment - not as many deals as 3-5 years ago, but still seeing cash flowing opportunities. 

Then look into the area and its surroundings as a potential investment opportunity.

If you did get into a situation where it was a failed exchange maybe look at Opportunity Zones as another option?

When I am negotiating deals with sellers, we're missing new opportunities to buy.